A bill that asks voters to approve a convention to consider changes to the Oklahoma Constitution hit a snag Monday.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, postponed hearing House Joint Resolution 1089 in the Senate Rules Committee.

Paxton, one of the authors, said he had some concerns about the language in the measure, which was written by the House, so he decided to lay over the measure.

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Under the measure, also authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, the convention would start Jan. 5, 2027, and end by May 28, 2028.

It would have 149 delegates composed of the 101 members in the House and the 48  in the Senate.

Any proposed changes would require a vote of the people at the November 2028 general election.

Republicans hold super majorities in both chambers.

Because all of the participants would be lawmakers, it gives the House better than a 2 to 1 margin in delegates, Paxton said.

He also said because the Aug. 25 and Nov. 3 ballots have so many state questions on them, “I don’t think this is a good year to do that.”

Democrats in the state House have pushed back against the measure because it marginalizes the voices of those not represented by Republican legislators and because it excludes Oklahoma’s tribal leaders.

The state Constitution requires that legislators propose a convention every two decades, but this hasn’t happened since 1970.

In prior years, bills calling for a constitutional convention have failed to garner support to make it through the process.

Paxton’s decision to lay the bill over doesn’t mean the measure is dead.

He can bring it back up.

The House last month passed the measure by a vote of 72-23.